In just a fortnight, some 3.4 million candidates will sit for their national examinations in a serious test for the basic education sub-sector. Although schools have faced challenges with funding, including delays and reductions in capitation funds, the Education authorities must ensure that everything proceeds according to plan.

This is the shortest and busiest term of the academic year, and the teachers and pupils must put the final touches to the revision for the upcoming exams. On the spot is the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec), which must fully prepare for these crucial tests.

The candidates will sit three sets of national examinations from October 17, whose management poses an acid test. They include the first-ever Kenya Junior School Assessment (KJSEA), whose results will place the candidates in senior schools.

The tests will be administered to the pioneer class of the competency-based education (CBE) curriculum, for which 1,130,669 learners have been registered. The candidates will transition to senior school in January.

And some 996,078 candidates will sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam. Also in this exam bonanza are another 1,298,089 candidates set for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA). With some 3,424,836 candidates, this is the country’s largest examination year.

This has necessitated the mobilisation of security officers to man the exam containers and escort centre managers to collect and return materials.

The Knec has allayed fears of the possibility of rogue candidates accessing exam materials before the set time. Exam cheating has been a perennial problem. Comprehensive measures must be taken to secure the exam materials so that none of the candidates has an undue advantage over the others. The candidates must get what they truly deserve to protect the credibility of these tests.